BONNIE INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENTS

2024 RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

Team managers are expected to read, memorize and carry the tournament rules with them at all times during their games. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact Alberto Ariza at albertoariza2@gmail.com. We appreciate your participation and hope you enjoy the tournament. Best of luck to all teams!

 

(** UPDATED March 18th, 2024 **)

 

 

Rosters – All teams must have a minimum of 9 players on their rosters. Final rosters for tournament eligibility must be submitted by March 22nd, 2024. In order to make changes to your tournament roster once it has been submitted, an addition/deletion form along with proof of age must be submitted to a tournament director before the team's first tournament game. The team manager must carry a copy of each player's birth certificate on their team throughout their entire time in the tournament.

 

Bats - USA Bats and Wood Bats are only allowed in ages 8-12U. ONLY wood bats OR wood composite bats such as Baum or DeMarini Bats in13U. No bamboo bats are allowed.

 

Insurance – All teams must carry medical and liability insurance.  Proof of insurance must be submitted to the tournament director(s) along with your application. Teams are required to add the Bonnie Youth Club, 1221 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11218 as an additional insured.

 

Home Team - The home team will be determined by the flip of a coin before the start of each game on Saturday with an umpire present unless determined at a previously announced time. The higher seed will be the home team for playoff games. 

 

AEDs - AED needs to be present at every game and there must be an AED Certified person in attendance (could be the umpire if necessary). In case of AED not present or no AED Certified person present, there will be no contest and not made up resulting in a double forfeit. 

 

8U/9U Rules (Little League Rules) - The 8U/9U division will be the only division playing under Little League rules. 

1. Stealing - When a pitcher is in contact with the pitcher’s plate and in possession of the ball and the catcher is in the catcher’s box ready for the delivery of the ball, base runners shall not leave their bases until the ball has been delivered and has reached the batter.  

2. NO leads.

3. NO drop third strikes.

4. NO fake bunts, but bunting is allowed. 

5. NO balks.

5. Infield fly is allowed. 

6. There is tagging up. 

7. 46' pitching distance, 60' base distance in 9U, and 40' pitching distance, 60' base distance in 8U.

 

8U ONLY: For 8u, the maximum number of runs in an inning is 5 other than the last inning (by time or actual inning) where a team can stay up until 3 outs.  Also for 8u, no runners can score on an error. Must score on a hit or base on balls. 

 

Pitching Limit -

Pitch count limits will not be enforced this year, but we have set up an inning limit for each age group. It is the responsibility of the individual team officials to ensure the well-being of their pitchers.

 

In the 8U division, pitchers can throw up to 3 innings in a game, 5 innings within 2 days.

In the 9U and 10U divisions, pitchers can throw up to 6 innings in a day, up to 9 innings within 2 days.

In the 11U, 12U, and 13U divisions, pitchers can throw up to 7 innings in a day, up to 10 innings within 2 days. Throwing too many innings - A penalty will be assessed to the pitcher based on the number of innings pitched

 

. Pitchers are not allowed to start in consecutive games.

 

Innings should be confirmed after the pitcher has been taken out with the opposing team and the umpire including at the end of a game for final confirmation. All innings must be reported to Alberto Ariza (albertoariza2@gmail.com). They will be posted on the website at the end of each tournament day. 

 

If innings are NOT reported, then we will automatically assume the pitcher threw the full game. 

 

If a pitcher is found to have exceeded the allowed number of innings during a game, the illegal pitching situation will be rectified immediately. An infraction will occur when the pitcher in question is not removed after being warned by the official scorer. The manager of the team exceeding the inning limits will be ejected from the game. The tournament committee will review the infraction after the game and may impose an additional one-game suspension for the manager if warranted. The pitcher in question will not receive any direct penalty but will be made based on the number of innings pitched at the time of the infraction.

  

Protesting A Game ––

1. The only person who may protest shall be the team manager or person in charge of the team.

2. The only grounds for protest are a decision based on the interpretation of the rules or the use of an ineligible player/bat.

3. Decisions on protests due to violation of rules need to be made before the next pitch while illegal players can be protested say until the start of the next game. Protest Fee of $50 is refunded if Protest is allowed.

4. The umpire in charge will notify the opposing manager that the game is being played under protest and will make note of the protest in each team’s scorebook. The head tournament director will be contacted immediately.

5. The head tournament director will make the decision whether the protest is upheld. If so, the game will be resumed from the point of the protest, except in the case of an ineligible player where a forfeit will result. Teams are responsible for any additional umpire fees. 

 

Tie-Breakers:

1. 1st tiebreaker – winner of head-to-head competition

2. 2nd tiebreaker – fewest total runs against

3. 3rd tiebreaker – record against pool of tied teams

4. 4th tiebreaker – run differential.

5. If still tied, a coin toss by the tournament director.

If a team won a game or lost a game on forfeit, their runs allowed and scored for that game will be the average from their other games played.

Game Length and Time Limit – The game length will be 6 innings and the time limit will be 2 hours for the 8U, 9U, and 10U divisions. The game length will be 7 innings and the time limit will be 2 hours for the 11U and 12U divisions. In the 13U division, the game length will be 7 innings and the time limit will be 2 hours. Semifinal games will have a time limit, but there must be a winner. In a Championship game, there is NO time limit, but the mercy rule is in effect. An official game for the 9 and 10U divisions is 4 innings while the 11, 12, and 13U divisions are 5 innings.

 

The Time Limit means that no inning can start after the time limit has been exceeded.  However, once the inning has started the inning will be completed even if the time limit is exceeded in the middle of the inning.  If the inning is not completed for any reason, then the game will end and the win will go to the winning team. The only exception to this rule is if the visiting team goes ahead by 10 runs in the top of the inning and the time limit is exceeded after the inning starts.  In this case, the game will be stopped immediately. The Time clock is started from the time that the pre-game meeting of the managers and umpires has been completed or when the home team takes the field in the second game of a doubleheader. It is the umpire’s prerogative to start the clock if the home team is tardy in taking the field.

 

Mercy Rule -  The mercy rule will take effect when a team is ahead by 12 runs after 3 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, or 8 runs after 5 innings, the game will be stopped at the end of a full inning (equal number of at-bats) unless the time limit runs out in the top of the inning and mercy run limit is reached.  

 

Ejections -  A manager, player, or coach ejected from a game will be subject to a $50 fine and/or suspension. The ejected individual must remove himself at least 200 yards from the nearest player. If there is deliberate physical contact with an umpire, then the person involved will be immediately suspended from the tournament pending a hearing.  If the incident occurs in the first game of a doubleheader then the suspension will be immediate and the offending person will not be permitted to participate in the second game.

 

Rainouts/Lightning & Official Game -

1. Assume all games will be played if the weather is questionable unless called or emailed by a tournament director. The safety of the players is of primary concern.

 

2. Poor weather after the start of the game – Umpires to determine if fields are in playable condition and will stop games if player safety is at risk. If thunder or lightning is heard or seen nearby during a game, the game is to be stopped immediately. The game may resume after twenty continuous minutes without thunder or lightning. The umpire will call the game after three thunder or lightning delays. Safety is of primary concern.

 

3. It is an official game after four innings (9/10U) or five innings (11/12/13U) if the game is called for darkness or any other weather condition. If a game gets called in the middle of an inning and the lead has not changed hands in the inning then the score reverts back to the previous inning. However, if the lead has changed hands in the middle of the inning and the game gets called then it is a suspended game. This is the Major League Rule.

 

4. Umpires shall use discretion with darkness and all other weather-related conditions to determine if the fields are safe to play. Games shall end early or be canceled if poor conditions prevail. The safety of the players is of primary concern.

 

5. If the game is called for any reason prior to becoming official is a suspended game and will be resumed from the point of stoppage before the start of the next round if it impacts the standings.

 

 

Forfeit Time –

A forfeiture will be awarded under the following circumstances:

a. A team is not ready to play 15 minutes after the scheduled game time.

b. A team is unable to field at least 8 players throughout the entire game.

c. If, in the Tournament Director(s) judgment, a forfeit is warranted.

 

Responsible Adult in Attendance -  There must be at least one responsible adult in attendance for each team at all times in order for a game to be started or continued to completion.  Normally that responsible adult is expected to be the manager or a coach that has been listed on the team’s roster that was submitted to the tournament. Under extenuating circumstances where the manager and/or coach cannot attend then another responsible adult can take their place. However, under no circumstances will a game be started without a responsible adult in attendance for each team. If this situation occurs, the game will be called a forfeit to the team without a responsible adult and will be responsible for paying the umpires, not the tournament.

 

In the case where the only responsible adult in attendance for a team is thrown out of the game by the umpire, then the adult will be permitted to stay on the field but will be confined to the dugout and will not be permitted to communicate in any way with the players or umpires.  Failure by the responsible adult to comply will result in the game being forfeited. In the case where a player is seriously injured and the only responsible adult in attendance needs to take that player home or to the hospital for medical attention, the game will be suspended and completed at a later date if it has a bearing on the standings.

 

Lineups - A team can decide to hit 9 or 10 players or hit a universal lineup.

 

Re-entry Rule -  Re-entry is permitted.  A starting player can re-enter once and must do so in the same spot in the batting order.  A substitute player cannot re-enter under any circumstances in the same spot in the batting order or in a different spot except to prevent a forfeit due to an injury or ejection.  A pitcher can only re-enter as a pitcher if taken out of the game on the first trip to the mound and no previous trips in the inning occurred.

 

Non-Violent Contact Rule – Violent contact will not be permitted on plays at any base.  It is the umpire’s discretion to call the runner out in case of violent contact and to eject the runner from the game.   Violent contact includes but is not limited to lowering the shoulder, raising the elbow, or intentionally trying to hurt the fielder in any way when making contact.

 

 

Extra Hitter -  An extra hitter is permitted. The Extra Hitter can play the field. If the extra hitter goes into the field, the hitter continues to bat in the same spot in the batting order. The player that the extra hitter replaces in the field also hits in the same spot in the batting order if that player stays in the game.  If that player is removed from the game then the replacement player bats in the spot in the batting order of the removed player.

 

Trips to the Mound – The major league rule for trips to the mound will be used. 1 visit per inning.

 

Field distances will be as follows:

Division	Bases Distance	Pitching Distance
PeeWee (8U)	60	40
Cub (9U)	60	46
Cub (10U)	65	46
Bantam (11/12U)	70	50
Grasshopper (13/14U)	90	60

 

 

Helmets – Double Flap helmets that are in good condition (no cracks)  must be worn at all times at the plate and on the bases and in the coaches’ box if a player is coaching.  The catcher’s helmet and mask must be worn at all times when the catcher is catching the pitcher. Failure to comply will result in ejection.  

 

Rainouts - The tournament will be rescheduled for the second weekend of September.

 

Speed-up Rules -  Runner for BOTH the pitcher and catcher is mandatory with 2 outs and optional with 0 or 1 outs if the pitcher is batting or on base. The runner must be a player that is not currently in the game or who made the last batted out and must be on base within a minute.  

 

Field Dress and Behavior – All Players must be in full uniform in order to play in the game.  Failure to do so could result in a fine but it will not be grounds for a forfeit.  Managers and coaches must be dressed in a baseball fashion with a team hat, team identifying T-Shirt or uniform, and coaches’ shorts or pants.  Managers and Coaches will not be permitted to coach the lines or go on the field in fairgrounds if not properly dressed. Failure to comply will result in an immediate ejection and a fine.   There is to be no smoking, drinking of alcoholic beverages, unsanitary behavior, or cursing on the field under any circumstances. The penalty is immediate ejection and a fine. Managers, Coaches, and Players need to stay in the dugout at all times if not on the coaching lines, in the on-deck circle, or on the field for some valid reason.

 

Spectator Behavior - Unruly and unsportsmanlike conduct by Spectators, Parents, and Friends of the teams will not be tolerated.   Each team is responsible for controlling their fans. If such behavior occurs, the umpires will give the manager of the team in question one warning. If such behavior continues, the umpires can ask the manager to have the offending parties leave the playing area.  Failure to do so within 5 minutes will result in the game being forfeited.

 

Metal Spikes -  Metal spikes are not permitted at any time for ages 8-12U. Metal Spikes are permitted in 13u games as long as they are permitted by the playing facility.

 

Official Baseballs -  The following baseballs will be used and provided by the tournament: Little League Baseball or Better (Wilson 1074 or equivalent) for ages 8-12U. Babe Ruth Baseball or Better (Wilson 1082 or equivalent) for ages 13/14U. 2 baseballs will be provided to each team (4 baseballs in a game).

  

Other Tournament Rules

a)  Cell phones and/or electronic devices of any kind are not permitted on the coaching lines, on the pitcher's mound, or in and around home plate at any time.   If you receive a call on your cell phone in those areas, you must vacate those areas to continue the call or terminate the call immediately. Failure to comply can result in an immediate ejection and a fine.

b)  No pepper or soft toss is to be allowed at any time on any field.

c)  Dugouts -  Only authorized team personnel are allowed in the dugouts. Teams may have up to four coaches in the dugout, including a scorekeeper. Spectators are only permitted in the dugouts in the event of inclement weather.

 

Ground Rules -  The Manager is required to attend the pre-game meeting with the opposing manager and the umpires prior to the start of the game. If the manager fails to do so, then any ground rules including the official game starting time covered at that meeting can only be discussed with the umpires during the game by the person that the manager designated to take the ground rules.

 

Other Rules - Major League Rules will apply in all cases not specifically mentioned in these rules.  This includes the balk rule to third base if a pitcher steps toward 3rd base without throwing the ball. PLEASE NOTE: we are not using any of the new MLB rules including pitch timers, bigger bases, shift rules, and ghost runner on 2nd base in extra innings.

** SCHEDULE REQUESTS NEED TO BE MADE BY MARCH 1st, 2024 AND ARE NOT GUARANTEED. WE WILL DO OUR VERY BEST TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR NEEDS. **